Daly Cherry-Evans is officially a Rooster. Good luck stopping them winning the comp in 2026

Daly Cherry-Evans has officially joined the Sydney Roosters – and the 16 rival NRL clubs might as well concede they are now playing for second place in 2026.

When Greg Inglis joined South Sydney for the start of the 2012 season, then chief executive Shane Richardson declared the club had just won their 21st premiership. Two years later, they did just that.

The Roosters are entitled to believe they have just won their 16th title with the arrival of natural-born leader Cherry-Evans.

After months of speculation, the Roosters confirmed on Friday morning the 36-year-old former Manly skipper will be playing at Bondi next season.

Cherry-Evans played 352 games and spent 15 seasons at Brookvale, winning a premiership in his maiden 2011 season, but failed to reach an agreement with the club on a contract extension earlier this year.

It’s a loss that could come back to haunt the Sea Eagles – but one that will hugely benefit the Roosters.

Cherry-Evans knows what success looks like, and will be more than comfortable calling the shots at halfback – which will free up halves partner Sam Walker. The 23-year-old was outstanding when he returned from knee surgery in the back half of the season, but can only improve after a full pre-season with his new teammate.

Nafahu Whyte finished the year as one of the best props in the game and, with Lindsay Collins and Spencer Leniu, will provide a pleasant reminder for Cherry-Evans about what it’s like to play behind a pack that can roll down field with ease. In Manly’s defence, the injuries their forwards suffered this year were almost comical and cruelled Cherry-Evans’ last season on the Northern Beaches.

The other big winner from Cherry-Evans’ signing is James Tedesco, the veteran fullback who rolled back the years to have the Dally M Medal stitched up by June and will now have another calm head and fellow leader alongside him in the heat of battle.

Cherry-Evans and Tedesco will not play State of Origin football again, while Walker might be a year or two away from becoming a regular Queensland selection. New recruit Reece Robson will do well to hold out Blayke Brailey for the NSW No.9 jersey, meanwhile, which means the Roosters are every chance of keeping their spine intact during the middle part of the campaign.

Cherry-Evans’ Roosters deal is reportedly worth about $500,000, with an option in the halfback’s favour for 2027.

It is a modest salary, which means there is still plenty in Nick Politis’ billion-dollar piggy-bank to splash on Tedesco should the 32-year-old choose to play on beyond next season.

Mark Nawaqanitawase is off to rugby at the end of next season and has the added motivation of leaving with a premiership ring, while Rob Toia played Origin when essentially still a rookie this year and will only improve for the experience. Hugo Savala will be a classy No.14 and Cherry-Evans’ understudy.

Cherry-Evans’ great mate Kieran Foran is returning to the Sea Eagles as part of the coaching team, and had made a late, late bid to try and convince DCE to stay put.

“When we spoke, I said, ‘How about a backflip, Chez’, and he just laughed,” Foran said on Thursday.

Roosters coach Trent Robinson knows his young players, many of whom had a good crack in first grade last season, are poised for great things in 2026. All he needs is a bit of luck with injury.

But every coach is only as good as the senior players who drive the standards and expectations for the rest of the group. Cherry-Evans fits that bill perfectly.

“Daly’s experience and understanding of the game will be a strong addition to our group and we’re excited to welcome him to the Roosters,” Robinson said. “I’m looking forward to working with him.”